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Attorney General Raoul Obtains Prison Sentence Against Perry County Man Over Possession Of Child Sexual Abuse Material

1 month 3 weeks ago
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a Perry County man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for possessing child sexual abuse material. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online. Larry W. Morrison, 57, of Pinckneyville, Illinois was sentenced by Perry County Circuit Court Judge Campanella after pleading guilty to three Class 2 felony counts of child pornography. “The child victims of these horrific crimes are exploited each time images are shared, and holding perpetrators accountable can be crucial for the victims, their families and their recoveries from trauma,” Raoul said. “My office will continue to collaborate with local law enforcement agencies to protect Illinois’ children and stop the perpetrators who abuse them.” In June 2024,

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Illinois Housing Development Authority and LISC Open Applications to Grow the Next Generation of Housing Developers

1 month 3 weeks ago
CHICAGO – The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) announced today that individuals may now apply to be part of the 2026 class of the Next Gen Capacity Building Initiative (Next Gen), a program designed to expand the talent pipeline for emerging developers to gain knowledge in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) industry. Next Gen equips for-profit and nonprofit developers with critical training, technical assistance, and understanding of financial resources to bring affordable housing to life in communities across Illinois. “Next Gen is about opening doors for developers who are ready to shape the future of affordable housing in Illinois,” said Kristin Faust, IHDA Executive Director . “By expanding access to technical training and early-stage capital, IHDA and LISC are making sure that more voices and more communities can help our evolving housing needs. If you are a developer with a desir

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Edwardsville Partners with Community Foundation to Reimagine Downtown Building for the Arts

1 month 3 weeks ago
EDWARDSVILLE – A generous bequest by the owners of a nearly century-old Edwardsville business will help breathe new life into a downtown building that is set to be transformed into the home of the Edwardsville Arts Center. Mayor Art Risavy and the Edwardsville City Council announced Tuesday, October 21, that the City has purchased the former Edwardsville Frozen Foods building at 246 N. Main Street with the support and financial backing of the Edwardsville Community Foundation. “The opportunity to transform this wonderful downtown building, which is next to our historic Wildey Theatre and near a vibrant business mix, is going to be incredibly impactful for the City,” Mayor Art Risavy said. “This is a win that will be felt in downtown Edwardsville and beyond, and an exciting prospect for the Edwardsville Arts Center, which has been seeking a permanent site.” The Edwardsville Community Foundation presented Mayor Risavy and the City Council a check for $525,000

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MCT Trails Launches Trail Courtesy Campaign

1 month 3 weeks ago
MADISON COUNTY, Ill. — The Madison County Transit (MCT) Trails are one of Madison County’s greatest treasures — more than 138 miles of scenic Class I bikeways. As the number of walkers, runners, and bicyclists has grown, so does the need for a shared understanding: the MCT Trails are for everyone, and safety starts with slowing down. That’s why MCT, together with several of the most active members of the MCT Trails Rider Group on Facebook, is launching a friendly reminder campaign about trail etiquette — including the 15 miles per hour (mph) speed limit and rules for walkers, riders, and rollers (e-bikes and scooters included!). This isn’t about enforcement; it’s about keeping the trails enjoyable, safe, and welcoming for everyone. “The speed limit is meant to protect people, not punish,” said MCT Managing Director SJ Morrison. “It keeps the MCT Trails safe and welcoming for users of all ages, modes, and abilities.”

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Red Cross: Blood Or Platelet Donation Appointments Needed Now $20 In Gift Cards

1 month 3 weeks ago
ST. LOUIS, MO. — The American Red Cross urges donors to give blood or platelets now to help curb a drop in donor turnout this fall. Donors of all blood types and those giving platelets are asked to book a time to donate at a Red Cross blood donation center or community blood drive to help give hospitals the tools they need to care for patients ahead of the holidays. To say thank you, all who come to give Oct. 27-Nov. 16, 2025, will get $20 in e-gift cards to a choice of merchant, plus automatic entry for a chance to win one of three $5,000 prizes. See RedCrossBlood.org/Harvest .? Don’t wait – Schedule a time to give blood or platelets by visiting RedCrossBlood.org , calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App. Enhance community health November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. Understanding our own health is the foundation for helping prevent chronic illness and saving lives. Blood and platelet donations can be a part of that journey.

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Attorney General Raoul Leads Coalition Defending Requirements That Expose Race-Based Disparities Among Students Facing Discipline, Disabled

1 month 3 weeks ago
CHICAGO — Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul co-led a multistate coalition of 16 attorneys general in filing a comment letter opposing the Trump administration’s proposal to remove reporting requirements that ensure the U.S. Department of Education meets its obligation to oversee how states determine whether school districts have significant racial and ethnic disparities in special education programming and student discipline. “Data and research have shown for decades that students are disproportionately identified for special education and related services based on race and ethnicity,” Raoul said. “It is important that these imbalances are accurately documented so that they can be addressed.” Children of color are disproportionately identified as children with disabilities and placed in segregated, restrictive special education settings at substantially higher rates than their peers. There is concern that some of these children may be misidentified,

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Durbin Meets With The American Association Of Cancer Institutes

1 month 3 weeks ago
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the American Association of Cancer Institutes’ (AACI) President, Dr. Robert Winn, to discuss the Trump Administration’s devastating cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The Trump Administration has frozen or cancelled billions in NIH grant funding, fired thousands of NIH staffers, and proposed a Fiscal Year 2026 budget that requests a 40 percent cut to medical research at NIH, including a more-than 35 percent cut to cancer research specifically. These actions threaten our nation’s progress to find new cures and treatments for cancer patients and their families and discourage the next generation of researchers from entering the medical research field. “What the Trump Administration is doing to medical research conducted at the NIH and NCI is abhorrent. Does anybody believe that America is greater as a nation with less cancer research?

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Illinois Together Against Hate: Building a Roadmap for the Nation

1 month 3 weeks ago
CHICAGO – More than 200 people participated in the 2025 Illinois Together Against Hate: Human Rights in Action Conference on Oct. 21 in Champaign, Illinois. The Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR), the Illinois Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes (CDHC), and the City of Champaign’s Equity & Engagement Department collaborated efforts to amplify conversations and strengthen partnerships to combat hate. The event served as a powerful, in-person gathering for community members, civil rights advocates, and human rights professionals to share actionable tools, innovative strategies, and impactful connections that drive lasting change. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Cynthia Miller-Idriss , a leading scholar and author on extremism and radicalization, and founder of the Polarization & Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL) at American University. Attendees participated in sessions and workshops covering topics ranging from understanding discrimination

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Schmidt Hosting Mobile Office Hours October 23 in New Athens

1 month 3 weeks ago
NEW ATHENS — State Representative Kevin Schmidt, a Republican from Millstadt, will hold Mobile Office Hours in New Athens on October 23, providing constituents an opportunity to discuss state legislation and share their views on changes they want to see from Illinois elected officials. The free event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the New Athens Village Hall, located at 905 Spotsylvania Street. “I look forward to meeting my constituents to have open conversations about what matters most to them and their families,” Schmidt said. “This event is designed to give individuals the time to share their voice with me so I can better serve them during legislative session.” Residents interested in attending or seeking more information can contact Schmidt’s office at (618) 215-1050 or visit his website at repschmidt.com.

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State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Honors Illinois LGBTQ+ Leaders

1 month 3 weeks ago
CHICAGO - State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today hosted a celebration in Chicago to commemorate LGBTQ+ History Month. The event was an opportunity to reflect on the significant achievements of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people, and their allies. Frerichs presented awards to leaders in the community, business, education, government, labor, sports, and arts and humanities. “Today, we honor the contributions of our LGBTQ+ neighbors and friends,” Frerichs said at the celebration lunch in the state government building at 555 W. Monroe St. “We thank them for their ongoing dedication to justice and equal opportunity. We are grateful for their enduring commitment to make Illinois and the world better places to live.” LGBTQ+ History Month was started in 1994 by Rodney Wilson, then a Missouri high school teacher who thought the historical importance of gays and lesbians should be emphasized. From those small steps, the month grew. The Equality Forum

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IDNR Announces Waterfowl Season Dates And Zone Lines For 2026-2030

1 month 3 weeks ago
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has selected waterfowl season dates and zone lines for the 2026-2030 seasons based on a thorough review of scientific information and input from waterfowl hunters. “Illinois is a large, diverse state with weather and climate patterns that change significantly from north to south,” said Doug McClain, IDNR’s wetland wildlife program manager. “Taking this reality into account, along with the federal waterfowl framework and the diverse hunting styles and opinions of waterfowl hunters, these dates and zone lines offer opportunity for all waterfowl hunters across the state. Illinoisans hunt in different habitat types and with different styles, necessitating compromises on these regulations.” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) regulations require states to establish zone lines for a five-year period, and the USFWS establishes the frameworks within which states must select their regulations.

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Attorney General Raoul Contiunes To Fight Against Attack On Planned Parenthood Funding

1 month 3 weeks ago
CHICAGO – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul today, as part of a coalition of 21 attorneys general, filed an amicus brief supporting Planned Parenthood’s lawsuit challenging a provision in the sweeping budget reconciliation law that eliminates federal funding for health care services provided by its health centers. The so-called Defund Provision blocks federal Medicaid funding for any health care services provided by Planned Parenthood health centers. Although federal law already disallowed federal funding for abortion, the Defund Provision targets other essential medical services normally covered by Medicaid, such as cancer screenings, birth control, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and wellness exams. “This provision is a direct attack on access to health care for millions of low-income Americans and disproportionately harms women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and communities of color,” Raoul said. “Without Planned Parenthood, many patients

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IDPH Marks Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, October 19-25

1 month 3 weeks ago
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is observing Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, October 19-25, and reminding all parents and caregivers of young children to be aware of risk factors for lead poisoning and how to prevent it. IDPH has been steadily expanding the state’s testing regimen for lead exposure in children, gradually increasing the number of high-risk ZIP codes where blood testing is required, as the state moves toward universal lead testing in 2026. Additionally, Illinois has adopted a more stringent standard, which requires medical intervention for tests that show a confirmed blood lead level of 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL). In those cases, a home inspection is conducted to determine the source of the lead contamination. If lead is found, the inspector works with the homeowner to remove the sources of lead. In addition, a public health nurse will contact the family about ways to protect children from the harmful effects

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